Aasimar (Az Ih Marh)
Blessed and touched with Celestial blood, Aasimar are a race created from the intermingling of mortality and divine.
Highly regarded both in the Material Plane and above, Aasimar frequently served as prophets, shepherds, or soldiers of Astrival long, long ago. As time progressed and the Era of the Demon passed - and with it, the physical presence of Astrival, the Aasimar that remained and the generations thereafter lost a large amount of their prestige in most places on Aden - They were still looked upon favorably, but the world acclimated to their presence, they were no longer sent from above, they were born on mortal soil, and were susceptible to the ravages of time like anyone else.
Aasimar ply their trade, working and operating just like the rest of the races in the world of Aden, their heritage merely being a passing blessing and little else, save for in places such as The Pal'vryn Empire, where they are still revered as much as they were in their heyday, to the point that only Aasimar and others with proven Celestial bloodlines are given any sort of clout to rule on a seat of power.
Basic Information
Anatomy
An Aasimar holds a great deal of similarities to humans, sharing their height, weight, and general physiology with their more mundane counterparts. There are, however, a number of things that set them apart in a grand way.
An Aasimar's skin-tone can range a wider array, for one. It is not uncommon to see Aasimar with metallic tones mirroring iron, steel, or even copper and mythril. Similarly, their eye colors can also range from a strange set that you would scarce ever find on a human. Brilliant blues or mysterious purples, sometimes with a soft glow to them, sometimes without - an Aasimar frequently appears both alien and grandiose all at once, a stark contrast from their Tiefling counterparts.
There are some that are stranger still, celestial markings adorned on their bodies; be they brands or tattoos - More than any other race, Aasimar are susceptible to Astrival marking, their connection to the The Domain of Law as strong as it is. Frequently, unlike the rest of the races on Aden, if a God is angered with an Aasimar, they will make it known to everyone, embedding their name into the foolish Aasimar for their transgressions. Though naturally, there are some Aasimar who believe themselves worthy of such shame and take it upon themselves to tattoo celestial names or values on themselves of their own volition.
Very, very rarely are these markings intended to be a blessing. But it is not impossible.
Genetics and Reproduction
An Aasimar's birth is completely indistinguishable from a human's birth, when done in the Material Plane, though there is something important to keep in mind.
Aasimar blood runs hot. If you have any amount of celestial blood in your veins, you will manifest as an Aasimar, there are no exceptions. This becomes an issue of great struggle when an Aasimar and a Tiefling decide to copulate. Their offspring will be an Aaefling, considered a monstrous abomination of both celestial and infernal blood, and are universally reviled and despised. Tieflings believing the creature to be tainted and twisted in appearance by the celestial blood, and Aasimar feeling much the same way. A union of Heaven and Hell that should not have happened.
Birthed in Astrival, however, if not done through the usual human fashion, they are instead created and borne from light itself; their parents theoretically being Astrival, rather than any sort of normal parentage. Most Angels are born in this way as well, and consider the plane or the Gods their parents, and establishing a maternal bond with the angelic caretakers that shepherd them along until they become of adult age in 18 years.
Growth Rate & Stages
Aasimar share the some maturation rate as humans, not being any faster or slower; though they do visibly age past that at a relatively slower pace, owing to their increased life spans.
While not all Aasimar have wings (though most can sprout them in a moment of radiant need), typically if they are to be blessed with wings, it will be at birth. Small, angelic, feathery wings that will be unable to sustain their weight until well into their adult life, and even then, only for short periods of time - the wings are not as grand and powerful as true Angel wings, moreso just a rare hold-over from their Celestial blood.
Biological Cycle
While an Aasimar's maturation and general stages through life are almost exact to a normal humans (save for their extended lifespans meaning they visibly age a tad slower), there is a quirk they've picked up that matches their Angelic ancestry.
When an Aasimar dies, the body will never rot, instead "decaying" into that of a solidified statue of metal, preserved in their final moments for all of eternity. There are numerous cathedral undercrofts that have entire sections that look more like a "Hall of Heroes" than a crypt, placing the Aasimar upright as stalwart statues, forever guarding the dead for eternity in their petrified state.
It is said that this is a hold-over from their celestial blood, as much of the same happens to angelic beings as well. Not only does it prevent the desecration of the body due to time, but it also completely prevents and nullifies any attempts to perform necromantic arts such as making the body rise up as a zombie or skeleton - though Raise Dead does still work as normal (but is frequently frowned upon unless performed by a Cleric of Astrival or something similar.)
One of the greatest desecrations someone can do to an Aasimar (and an angel, by extension) is melt down their bodies into metal in a forge. The metal will always be brilliant, pure, and of high quality, owing to its Celestial origins, but it will completely destroy the eternal presence that the Aasimar once held - turning a man into a tool, something to be manipulated by the hands of mortals.
This horrific metal, regardless of the sub-type the Aasimar had in life (Iron, Steel, Mythril) is referred exclusively as Celestium once discovered; and may be hidden to those unskilled in metalwork or religion. Their brilliant purity all too recognizable as borderline impossible to achieve to those who are aware of the craft...
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Blessed with a radiant soul, Aasimar find that their vision can easily cut through darkness, affording them a level of darkvision. Unfortunately, they are still subject to seeing in shades of grey in darkness.
Most Aasimar, however, are capable of casting Light though, so perhaps a non-issue.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
160 years.
Average Height
The same ranges as humans
Average Weight
The same ranges as humans
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Skin tones range from normal human ones to various metals, and while some have markings, it is entirely possible for others to not.
Related Organizations
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